Mirror backup HD full


  1. Posts : 6
    windows 7 home
       #1

    Mirror backup HD full


    The Mirror external backup HD is in the red showing only 30 GB free. I wish to buy a larger HD, say a 2 TB.
    Can I transfer all the data from the current HD to the new one? If so, how please?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #2

    What exactly is backed up on this external drive? Windows itself? Personal data only? Both?

    What application did you use to make this backup?

    If it's personal data only, normally you'd just connect both drives to the PC at the same time and drag the stuff from old external to new external.

    Or you could just make new backups directly from your original source drive to the new external.

    More details needed. A screen shot of your Windows Disk Management might help.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 6
    windows 7 home
    Thread Starter
       #3

    Many thanks for reply.
    I am using the Windows 7 Mirror facility which came with the software.
    It is, as I understand, a complete mirror of my PC's HD, data and OP.
    On reflection, it would not be that important to copy the older versions of data files, as none are that 'critical'.
    I will just plug in the new, larger HD and carry out a new Mirror process? Am I right?
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #4

    You say, "Windows 7 mirror facility, which came with the software". Do you mean came with Windows 7? Or are you referring to something that is NOT built into Windows? I'm guessing you mean came with Windows 7.

    I am not highly familiar with the built-in Windows mirror tool, other than that it can be finicky and is not easily understood.

    You say "as I understand", which implies to me that you are not particularly sure about how or what it does either.

    In your shoes, I would:

    1: make a new mirror of all files onto the new external.

    2: do what I had to do to better understand Windows mirroring so that I'm not in for a rude surprise in the future when I might find out I didn't really know what it was doing or exactly how to configure it.

    3: if I could not fully comply with step 2 to my complete satisfaction, I'd find another tool that I did understand and in which I had more confidence.

    4: regardless, I would make an ordinary drag and drop copy with the mouse of my most important personal files, completely bypassing Windows mirroring or any other similar application. I would do this periodically.

    I would not be much concerned if mirroring failed miserably to back up Windows because when push comes to shove, Windows can be reinstalled from the ground up. All mirroring can do is save you time. But I would be concerned that mirroring might fail to back up my personal files as they may be irreplaceable.

    On the other hand, you say that none of your data files are that critical, so maybe you are fine with losing everything permanently. That's your business entirely.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 6
    windows 7 home
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Hi. Thanks for your prompt reply.
    I will do a new Mirror back up using the Win 7 built-in option on to a large external HD.
    I will, as suggested use the 'old' external HD to copy any important files, all contained in 'Documents' folder, so that such not be all that difficult to do.
    I already have a copy of the 'Documents' folder on Google drive. However, I have a question: does this folder have to be in the 'Google drive' folder on my PC, so that it is automatically synced?
    many thanks
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 12,012
    Windows 7 Home Premium SP1, 64-bit
       #6

    karlh1943 said:
    I already have a copy of the 'Documents' folder on Google drive. However, I have a question: does this folder have to be in the 'Google drive' folder on my PC, so that it is automatically synced?
    many thanks
    I purposely know nothing about Google drive other than that it is effectively a hard drive up in the sky somewhere, on the other side of an Internet connection.

    My comment was intended to promote the idea of a drag and drop backup of your most important files to a hard drive connected directly to your PC, NOT, repeat NOT, to some hard drive up in the sky somewhere.

    I don't want an Internet connection to Google or anyone else to stand between me and my data backups. You get to decide whether you share that opinion. Additional backups obviously aren't going to hurt anything, but they have varying degrees of reliability.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 6
    windows 7 home
    Thread Starter
       #7

    indeed, point taken.
    Thanks. Have ordered a new HD
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 6
    windows 7 home
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Hi
    I have now bought and installed a new 1 TB Seagate for the Mirror image.
    I have cleaned up the old HD, created a simple batch file and regularly run it to transfer my important data to this disc. Seems to satisfy my needs....
    thanks for your help
    Karl
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 2,774
    Windows 7 Professional 64-bit
       #9

    Suggest you periodically test your mirror'd backups by restoring a few folders and/or a few files.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 6
    windows 7 home
    Thread Starter
       #10

    thanks. will do.
      My Computer


 

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